2K-owned studio Visual Concepts has joined the increasing list of companies in the games industry that have been hit with layoffs. As caught by Game Developer, the NBA 2K developer has laid off an unknown number of staff at its Austin studio, as confirmed on LinkedIn by two former employees who were impacted by the layoffs.
Former art director Brad Bowling wrote, “The games industry bloodletting continues. Today Visual Concepts Austin laid off myself and a group of very talented developers. I have had a great time over the past couple of years working with some of the finest Game Devs in the industry. Over the past 23 years of making game art, I have seen some downturns but nothing like this.”
Former associate software engineer Sydney F wrote, “After a great year of working at Visual Concepts Austin it’s sad to say I’ve been laid off as of today along with several other amazing colleagues. I will miss all of those that I worked with greatly.”
Prior to its acquisition by 2K, Visual Concepts Austin, then known as HookBang, routinely provided development support on Visual Concepts’ NBA 2K titles. Following its acquisition and subsequent rebranding, the developer continued to perform that role.
The list of developers, publishers, and companies in the industry that have laid off members of their staff (to varying degrees) is already an excruciatingly long one, just a little over a month into 2024. It includes the likes of Microsoft, Riot Games, Sega, Unity, Lost Boys Interactive, Black Forest Games, People Can Fly, CI Games, Behaviour Interactive, and Thunderful Group, among others.
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